Pandemonium erupted amongst Liverpool supporters on Friday night when shock news arrived of a potential January exit for Curtis Jones.
The Scouser has been one of the Reds’ better performers this season and has at times looked primed to finally take his place as a regular starter for Arne Slot.
However, Jones has only 18 months left to run on his contract, and having failed to fully kick on nail down that elusive starting place, he has clearly began looking at his options.
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How much longer should Liverpool persevere with Curtis Jones?
Surely there are better options out there in the market…
Curtis Jones lines up ahead of Liverpool's UEFA Champions League match against Inter Milan at San Siro (Getty Images/Photo Agency).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Photo Agency
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The latest appears to be that Jones is indeed keen on a move to Inter Milan but, quite rightly, Liverpool are not willing to sanction his departure at this stage.
In the summer, though, this stance will surely be different. Local lad status aside, Jones is hugely replaceable at Anfield and the Liverpool hierarchy clearly think so too. Unless there is a significant change in terms of his contract situation, the writing is seemingly on the wall for a summer exit, and that is absolutely fine.
Curtis Jones exit suits everyone
In Jones’ eyes, he is good enough to be a regular starter for Liverpool. In the eyes of just about everyone else, unfortunately, he is not.
Neither Jurgen Klopp nor Slot have trusted the 25-year-old with a consistent role over the course of a season and while injuries have played their part in that, the truth is that Jones has just never made that final step.
Curtis Jones of Liverpool reacts after a missed chance during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Liverpool FC at Frankfurt Stadion.
Photo by Oliver Hardt – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
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READ MORE: Arne Slot may have already found his Curtis Jones replacement at Liverpool
He is a brilliantly talented footballer and is a great character to have around the Liverpool squad, but his tendency to hold onto the ball for far longer than is needed continues to harm him and until he overcomes that, other players will likely be preferred by his managers.
If a parting of the ways comes this summer, as looks likely, there will be a portion of the Liverpool fanbase who are furious that the club allowed an academy graduate to leave.
In reality, Jones has had an excellent Liverpool career, and there is no harm in admitting that it has perhaps gone as far as it can. The next stage of his pathway is to play week in, week out and that doesn’t feel like it will ever happen with the Reds.
How would you react if Curtis Jones leaves for Inter Milan?
And how much is he really worth?
Curtis Jones raises his arms above his head in celebration at the final whistle of Liverpool's UEFA Champions League match against Inter Milan at San Siro (Credit: Getty Images/Marco Canoniero/LightRocket).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Marco Canoniero/LightRocket
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So, while there will be some disappointment at seeing another local player leave – potentially for a European giant – there should be no real sadness if Jones is to go. Liverpool can bank a good fee and replace him with another equally able midfielder while the boy from Toxteth goes on to enjoy a greater role with his next club. Win-win.
How much can Liverpool sell Jones for?
As focus had been on the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold and then more recently on Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson, Jones’ contract situation has largely gone unnoticed.
He could of course decide that he wants to spend his career at Liverpool, as he has mentioned before, and sign another deal to stay at Anfield. But with the direction of travel suggesting that Jones will leave in 2026, talk will turn to how much the Reds can recoup in his sale.
At full-price, there is an argument that Jones is worth around £50m. An England international with more than 200 appearances for Liverpool under his belt and his best years potentially ahead of him, you could easily make that pitch.
However, with one year left on his contract his price may be reduced to some degree. Still, a fee of around £40m would feel fair and is yet another reason Liverpool should not stand in the way of Jones if he wants to leave. The Reds can sign a player of a similar level for that price and while they should not be making a habit of letting their best academy graduates leave, Jones has given his all for the club and has hit his ceiling. There is no shame in that, and if he does go in 2026, it should be well-wishes all around.
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